Breadcrumb

Implementation of the National Drug Schedules

The following summary illustrates how the National Drug Schedules (NDS) model is implemented across Canada.

Scheduling by Reference means that whenever NAPRA makes a scheduling decision, the decision is automatically in force in the provinces or territories where they have elected to schedule by reference, which means the NDS are referenced in provincial/territorial legislation. There may be exceptions to the NDS in rare cases to account for specific needs of that province or territory. Changes to provincial/territorial legislation are only required if the province or territory wants to make an exception to the NDS, otherwise the NDS are automatically in force.

NAPRA + Provincial Approval means that whenever NAPRA makes an addition or a modification to the NDS, the amendments need to be approved by either the pharmacy regulatory authority or the provincial/territorial government before the change comes into effect in the province or territory. The provincial/territorial drug schedules usually match the NAPRA schedules, but there may be exceptions in some cases to account for the specific needs of that province or territory.

Jurisdiction

Scheduling by Reference

NAPRA + Provincial Approval

Alberta

Yes

Manitoba

Yes

New Brunswick

Yes

Northwest Territories

Yes

Nova Scotia

Yes

Nunavut

Yes

Ontario

Yes

Prince Edward Island

Yes

Saskatchewan

Yes

Yukon

Yes

British Columbia

Yes

Newfoundland and Labrador

Yes

Quebec(Quebec currently maintains its own drug schedules and no plans are underway for provincial adoption of the national model.)